Projects

Aim of this project is the development of a silicon germanium (SiGe) voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) array covering frequencies from 1.5 to 12 GHz at very low phase noise.

The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test an Engineering Model of a compact Ku-Band output multiplexer with 16 channels of 120 W each.

State-of-the-art and future telecom satellites significantly grow in dimensions and in complexity demanding for new measurement approaches of P/L performances e.g. aiming on reuse of existing and in space limited test facilities.

In the NF-P/L study methodologies were developed and validated using near-field antenna measurement technologies being known for their unique and compact measurement dimensions and analysis capabilities. The study was conducted by the Antenna Measurement Technology Group of Airbus DS in Munich and of the Central Assembly Integration & Test Department of Airbus DS in Toulouse from November 2013 to November 2015.

The need for bandwidth in satellite communications and broadcasting is constantly increasing. It is foreseen that, in some locations, the capacity at the Ka-band alone will not be sufficient to allow for the emergence of new applications such as broad-band internet, satellite-HDTV, live video, telemedicine, interactive gaming, video conferencing, and others.
The exploitation of higher frequency band (Q/V) will offer a substantial increase in the capacity for the needs of both public and private sectors using satellite services. It is expected that Q/V-band will first be used for gateway access.

The effort and investment to make the electrical infrastructure more efficient through smart grid technologies and the large scale development of renewables requires connectivity to a large number of systems, even in the more remote areas, representing a business opportunity for satellite communications and space based services.

Since end of 2013, AER (previous FCV manufacturer) has announced to stop the production of the 400N FCVs and Airbus DS has decided to requalify the production process at Airbus DS Lampoldshausen. In this frame also design improvement steps have been introduced and finally a product requalification sequence was performed on a First Article unit. The existing flow control valve equipment specification is accepted by Airbus DS customers and was baseline for the requalification process finally.

Today there is a growing demand for large aperture antennas exhibiting increased capabilities (in terms of flexibility, reconfigurability, frequency bandwidth, and field of view) and reduced cost and complexity. Sparse arrays represent an effective architecture to achieve high performance while minimizing the number of controls for a limited field of view or wide band array.

Sparse arrays, based on non-regular lattices, are a valid alternative to periodic arrays because they are able to generate an equivalent tapering by adjusting the element positions. They also allow reducing the number of elements, and increasing the DC to RF overall efficiency of the antenna.

In this activity the optimization of the irregular array layout has been done in such a way to satisfy the required radiative performance keeping at the same time a simplified beam forming network and cooling system (e.g. heat-pipe).

The project centres on the creation of a fundamental and wide-ranging Software Defined Radio (SDR) development environment and methodology to address the software portability and reuse issues in developing wireless User Terminals (UTs). A lead UT application in the satellite communications field is also developed to help focus and validate the approach, involving the integration of existing Intellectual Property Right (IPR) blocks with newly developed portable blocks that are not available in the market-place.

LEO constellation comsat typically use mono prop propulsion systems in which the tank is 70% filled with hydrazine and 30% with nitrogen pressurization gas. By application a Solid Propellant Nitrogen Cool Gas Generator to pressurize the tank, the propellant filling rate can be increased to 95% for the same tank. This will increase life time of the satellite with years without changing the propulsion system itself.

The HighLIGHT SAT is a new Solar Array Tester (SAT) for multiple-junction devices. This multisource solar simulator is composed of three synchronized light sources which are independently adjusted to precisely balance the spectral content in each junction range. Accurate electrical characteristics (power measurement) of up to 10m2 triple-junction (3J) solar arrays are thus determined by this future-proof turnkey system with effective footprint.

The BeamSat project entails the development of Newtec’s next generation satellite broadband access system using multi-spotbeam Ka-band technology and wideband bent-pipe RF channels.
The purpose of the research project is to define and develop the next generation broadband Sat3Play solution by the launch of the broadband Ka-band satellite constellations. It will accelerate Newtec’s growth within the broadband market and will leverage Newtec to become the major European supplier for ground equipment in satellite broadband access networks.

The study investigated various Optical Beamforming Networks (OBFN) and associated optical techniques and technologies to satisfy the mission scenarios and requirements developed during the initial part of the study.
Two options were identified as the promising option to investigate further and detailed design of these two options were investigated

The project targets the feasibility of the inclusion of a GNSS Receiver into the platform avionics on-board computer, with target to Geostationary Telecommunication Platforms. The synergies between the TAS Italy on-board computer and GNSS Receiver architectures were investigated, under the supervision of the platform responsible in TAS France. The advantages with respect to a stand-alone GNSS receiver solution are pointed out, as well as the savings that an embedded solution provides.

Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands has developed a flexible film-based radiator enabling in certain cases 50% cost- and mass reductions compared to current state-of-the-art radiators while at the same time enabling easy customization and late integration capability.

The ARTES 5.2 programme was aimed at designing a Ka-band SSB Mixer to the conclusion of a fully analysed, manufactured and evaluated part. The primary challenge for the programme of work was to design and develop a SSB Ka mixer with low level spurious performance over a wide bandwidth. AIRBUS Defence & Space has been very successful in achieving these goals.

High frequency, high output power, next generation for communication satellites.

The objective of this project is to investigate the suitability of commercially available GaN enhancement mode FET for space power switching electronics. This project is peculiar to telecom applications being a flight DC/DC converter, fed by the nowadays common 100V satellite bus and with a power level of 600W. We focused on 200V rated GaN components with a high current capability with the true enhancement mode or cascode assembly.

The project was aimed at developing a low cost Ka Band 2W Transceiver for use on HYLAS.

The Reconfigurable Architecture Demonstration Equipment (RADE) program was an ARTES 5.2 program under which an in-orbit reconfigurable platform, making use of the software defined radio technology, capable of operating a sophisticated RF sampling and message decoding application used for the Satellite Automatic Identification of System for ships (S-AIS) was developed.

Thales prepared the next generation of S-Band TWTs with an output power of 500W which is double compared of today’s available products in addition to a large margin to multipaction. The interface and the specification are similar to today’s product respecting the new output power. As far as possible Thales used known materials and technologies in order to keep their long heritage. The product TL2500 enriches the portfolio of Thales.

This project focused on the design, development and testing of a photonic transceiver elegant breadboard which is capable of providing absolute security to cryptographic quantum key distribution (QKD) for secure space communications.
In addition, its compatibility with space environment was taken also into consideration in order to establish the operational limits and to identify any design or technological weaknesses for future space applications.

This activity studies and develops techniques allowing broadband Tx/Rx multiplexers to be realised as feed chain components. This enables single feed realisations where dual feed or dual antenna realisations would usually be proposed. The extreme temperature range presents challenges in tandem with the realisation of a quadruplexer operating over the extremes of a waveguide band.

Project Mercury comprises the design, development and industrialisation of a novel Ka-band transceiver for satellite communication terminals.

This development is intended as a further improvement and extension of the RUAG Space product range of Frequency Converters and Receivers for telecom payloads, covering frequency bands from C-band to Ka-band. These products are designed in a modular way in which generic sub-elements are used to build up the different equipment versions.

With this development separate Ka-Band LNA units are included in the RUAG Space product family for telecom payloads, which has been requested by customers.

FREquEncy Sharing Techniques with Other NEtworks or radio services

To be ready for future space missions requiring higher powers and voltages implement the recommendations of this study.

A modular Ka-band Down-converter equipment based on a multi-chip MMIC hybrid implementation for the RF section, using a single piece multi-cavity Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) packaging technology, and a conventional PCB based DC/DC Converter power supply section.
Several individual modules can be stacked together onto a mechanical fixing chassis/frame as required for individual spacecraft system requirements.

A Ku-Band TCR antenna with an elliptical radiation pattern has been developed. Some satellite manufacturers use this type of antenna as main TCR antenna, complemented with secondary antennas.

An Engineering Model (EM) for a Non-Explosive Actuator (NEXA) to be used in Hold-Down and Release Mechanisms (HDRM) of future telecom platforms, is designed, analysed, manufactured and tested.

The outcome of the project is the NEXA EM, which is a fast-acting, fully re-usable, ultra-low shock HDRM, currently under a TRL 4-5.

The future generation of communication satellites will use multi-beam antennas providing wide-band two-ways communication applications. Active discrete lens antennas permit generating a multibeam coverage adopting only a single Tx/Rx aperture or two separated Tx and Rx apertures instead of the current solutions based on multi-reflector systems. Reduced volume and maximum EIRP flexibility over the service area are the main advantages of this alternative multibeam antenna.

The main objective of the activity was to design, manufacture and test a multifrequency Ku/Ka band Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) breadboard and an Engineering Model to demonstrate the capabilities of a FSS based Ku/Ka band antenna.

Signalhorn is developing a web based customer portal to enable its customers to view and manage all aspects of their relationship with Signalhorn. It will provide an interface to the systems that Signalhorn uses to manage its customers’ accounts, networks and services. The portal will provide Signalhorn with a value-added service and a key differentiator. Key features include: access to near-real-time network performance and availability information; reporting of historical network status in standard formats; a trouble-ticketing system through which faults can be handled through to resolution; key information on networks, service, supplier contacts, SLAs and billing all in one place.

The Space Gate project aims at developing the new generation of satellite access network for high throughput satellite system, based on DVB S2-RCS2 standards

The purpose of this study is to focus on the satellite physical TM acquisition algorithm, especially in terms of management of TM acquisitions resolution and frequency.
This allows having the necessary and sufficient information, for satellite operation, depending on the status of equipment (off / nominal / investigation) and satellite (nominal / emergency).
From a set of requirements deduced from in-flight experience, a demonstrator unit has been implemented succesfully, based on a programmable logic component (FPGA), in order to allow algorithms testing on simulated or “real” (in flight) spacecraft telemetry

COTS GPS receivers are sensitive to radiation effects. Hence their availability is limited due to these effects. The project aims to increase the availability of COTS GPS receivers by adding additional support electronics (protection mechanisms) to counter these effects.

A special antenna for GEO Telecom satellites is developed. The antenna enables tracking of the GNSS satellites from different constellations around the Earth and providing position information to complement inputs from the star trackers to obtain orbit determination.

The Beamsat S3P B2X enhanced Newtec’s System portfolio with a low cost modem MDM2500 and a denser more performant MCD 7000 burst demodulator device module.

The objective of the project is, building on the Inmarsat 4 experience, to improve the system performance in order to meet more stringent pointing requirements of large deployable reflectors (12 m), in particular by introducing electronic beam steering compensation. The first application of this enhanced pointing system is on Alphasat.